Fence



(No Model.)

J. M. GROSS.

FENCE.

No. 568,945. Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH M. GROSS, OF DUBLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,945, dated October 6,/1896.

Application ned nach 13, 1896.

To cir/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, J osEPH M. GROSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dublin, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fence, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wire fences, and has for its object to provide a simple, strong, and durable stay for connecting the runners, to provide improved means for securing the stays to the runners to prevent relative vertical and horizontal displacement, and to provide an improved form of tension device and means for securing the extremities of the runners thereto.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front View of a fence constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one end of a panel, the same being partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the stays. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the opposite or inner side of the stay and the contiguous portions of the runners. Fig. 5 is a detail View of one of the tensionsprings and the contiguous extremity of a runner to show the means for attaching the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates the posts, between which extend the horizontal runners 2, connected by vertical stays 3 and 4. The stays are arranged in upper and lower series disposed alternately, the stays 3 of the upper series intersecting two or more of the runners which are intersected by the stays 4 of the lower series, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. One or more, and preferably two, of the stays of the lower series are extended below the plane of the lowermost runner, as shown at 5, Vand are provided' at their lower extremities with seats, such as perforations 6, for engagement by a truss-wire 7, which is disposed below the plane of the lowermost runner and is secured at its extremities to the terminal posts and' passing loosely for free adjustment through Serial No. 583,786. (No model.)

staples on the intermediate posts by which the panels are separated. A suitable tightening device or drum 8 is arranged upon one of the terminal posts for each runner and also for the truss-wire or cable, said drums being provided with any suitable means for winding and hence tightening the runners and truss-wire. In the construction illustrated the drums are provided with ratchets 9, engaged by pawls l10.

By arranging the truss n the vertical plane of the runners and below the lowermost runner it is adapted to take up sagin the panel Without detracting from the ornamentalappearance of the fence and without interfering with the replacement of broken or displaced runners.

The construction of stay which I prefer to employ is shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the same consisting of sheet metal bent at its longitudinal center to form a semitubular or concave-convex bar provided at its edges with open-sided notches or seats 11 for the runners, whereby Vertical displacement of the stays is prevented and whereby the upward pressure of the truss is communicated to the runners without depending solely upon tiewires or their equivalents. Furthermore, the stay is provided at its outer or convex side with au integral longitudinal bulge or hollow rib 12, which is continuous from one end of the stay to the other and corresponds in crosssectional area with the looped end of an ordinary hair-pin staple 13, such as that ordinarily .employed for securing runners to wooden stays or posts. The legs of the staple are extended through perforations 14, arranged upon opposite sides of the rib 12, and the extremities thereof, after passing through the space within the concaved side of the stay, are hooked or bent, as shown at 15, to engage the runn er between the vertical planes of the edges of the stay. Sufficient tension is preferably caused in the legs of the staple to draw or bend the intermediate portion of the runner inwardly or forwardly between the vertical edges ofthe stay, as shown at 16, whereby lateral displacement of the stay is prevented. In practice the perforations 14,

which are formed upon opposite sides of the vertical plane of the rib, are arranged out of horizontal alinement with the notches or seats 1l to avoid impairing the transverse strength of the stay.

From the above description it will be seen that the rib 12 performs a double function. In the first place it adds to the longitudinal strength of the stay to prevent bending thereof and at the same time strengthens the stay transversely to prevent flattening when exposed to pressure, and, in the second place, it forms a uniform and continuous seat for the staples, which correspond in cross-sectional area at their looped ends therewith.

In order to provide for an even tension in the runners and allow expansion and contraction thereof when exposed to changes ot' temperature, I employ tension-springs 17, which are fitted at their-inner extremities in seats 1S in one of the terminal-posts, the ends of the runners extending axially through the springs and being attached to the outer extremities thereof by means of caps consisting of intersecting diametrical pins 19. These pins intersect at their centers in an eye 20, formed in the extremity ot the runner, and are provided at their terminals` with hooks 2l to engage the outermost coil of the spring. The advantage of this construction of cap resides in the fact that upon compressing the spring the bars may be disengaged from the outer coil and folded to allow the withdrawal of the runner, and hence the dismounting of the spring. This facilitates the replacement of a broken runner or spring, and hence provides for economy both in construction and maintenance.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. In a fence, the combination with runners, of stays intersecting the runners, each stay `being of semitubular construction with its edges provided with transversely-alined open-sided notches or seats to receive the runners, and having a continuous longitudi' nal cross-sectionally-rounded rib upon its outer or front side, and looped staples having their legs fitted in perforations arranged upon opposite sides of the said rib,with their looped ends engaging and corresponding in crosssectional area with said ribs, and with their free extremities engaged with the runners between the vertical planes of the edges of the stay to bow said intermediate portions of the runners inwardly, substantially as specilied.

2. A fence-stay constructed of sheet met-a1 and folded upon itself to form a semitubular or cross-sentit nally-semicircular bar provided at its edges with seats or notches to tit fencerunners, provided at its outer or convex side with an integral continuous cross-sectionallyrounded strengtheningrib, and provided upon opposite sides of said rib with pertorations arranged out of transverse alinement with said seats or notches, substantially as specitied.

In a fence, the combination with runners and a terminal post through which `the extremities of the runners extend, of tension devices includingcoiled springs fitted at their inner extremities in seats formed in the outer side of said post concentric With the runners, said runners extending axially through the springs and being provided at their extremities with eyes, and folding caps for connecting the extremities of the runners vto `the springs, said caps consisting of crossed pins intersecting in the terminal eyes of the runners and provided at their extremities with hooks to engage the outermost coils of the springs, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH M. GROSS.

Vitnesses:

WYNNE JAMES, EDWIN F. THOMAS. 

